We are pleased to announce that we are re-starting our Engagement Story series. What better way to welcome this popular post than to share the charming story of our clients, Edmund and Jordan, whose international engagement is filled with hilarious near-misses and the most amazing accidental matching situation ever...

How did you meet?

Edmund: Jordan's mother taught in the United Kingdom for a few years, so seven-year-old Jordan and her younger sister would visit their mother in the summers while school in Connecticut was out. There was a brief gap between when the girls would get back to the States and when school would start again in the fall, which is when my mother would nanny for them. I was a WAY older eight-year-old and did not have time to hang out with a younger girl with cooties. I barely remember her as a kid, but she remembered me. Flash forward, and we knew of each other in high school but hardly ever interacted. After graduating high school early, Jordan enrolled in culinary school in Philadelphia and steadily rose in her career to become an executive chef. In 2014, she was on Facebook, and the social media platform recommended that she add me as a friend. She remembered me from when we were kids and sent the friend request. I had just gotten out of a relationship and jumped at the chance to reconnect with this gorgeous redhead from my hometown that I kind of remembered. In our first conversation after two decades, she did not hesitate to remind me that I did not play fairly in "cops and robbers."

I convinced her to visit me in Alexandria for a weekend, and we hit it off immediately. We did long-distance for two years, and then I asked her to move in with me. She landed a few jobs here before finding her current position, where she is the Executive Chef for Saint Stephens and Saint Agnes School. After dating for more than a few years, I proposed to Jordan in the United Kingdom town where Jordan visited her mother as a child on 12.19.22, and she said yes.

What drew you to each other initially?

Edmund: I was immediately drawn to Jordan's travel experience and quick wit. I saw an adventure buddy and someone that would take just as much pleasure in experiencing a new place as I do, as well as dishing out loads of good-hearted snarky jabs and fun. Her sense of humor is only matched by her sense of fashion which can really be seen when she's not wearing her chef clothes. Classically beautiful, Jordan is typically one of, if not the most, elegant woman anywhere we go. You need only look at her interactions with her friends to see how supportive and caring she is. Her red hair and beautiful almond eyes didn't hurt either.
Jordan: Edmund has always been the adult in the room. Super inviting, caring, and gregarious to everyone. I liked that we shared the same home, which was so special to me. I was already close with his brother from our childhood sleepovers in Connecticut. Visiting Washington, D.C., and seeing it with him made the start of our relationship so special. I remember telling my Dad, "This was who I was going to marry," shortly after our first date! My draw to Edmund is further driven by his insane work ethic, breakfast-making abilities, and the fact that he is so athletic... yet hates watching sports. Though he's annoyingly energetic, it keeps me motivated to keep up even a little bit (I've been warned I'll have to, should there ever be an apocalypse!) Edmund has proven who he is as a person over and over again. Shortly after my mother unexpectedly passed away before her time, he put a scrapbook together filled with advice from all my friend's Moms. He took care of me while I went through cancer treatment (though we joke it was just the Florence Nightingale effect).

What made you decide you wanted to get married?

Edmund: Jordan and I agreed that we had found our respective person in each other. We knew that we complemented each other in a way that made us both better - most of the time (we tend to be enablers for each other when it comes to skipping the gym and buying things on Amazon we don't need). We never felt pressured to get engaged and did not feel an urgency, so we dated for a while, intimidated by the whole proposal and wedding process, logistically and financially. It was in 2020, when we were both laid off from work and Jordan was diagnosed with cancer all in the same month, that we truly learned to rely on each other. The thought of losing her kicked my butt into gear. I proposed about a year after she beat cancer.

Tell us about the design process. Did you have a solid idea of what you wanted, or did you need some inspiration?

Edmund: Working with Meaghan at Alexandria & Company was really the first step in executing my proposal plan. Everything fell into place and got rolling once I had the first consultation. I have to admit I felt pretty guilty about the number of design iterations Meaghan went through as I received a TON of input from Jordan's family and friends. I knew I wanted an emerald because Jordan had casually mentioned that she wanted that stone early on in our relationship. However, I learned in talking with Meaghan that emeralds are quite fragile, so I ended up deciding against including one since Jordan has such an active, hands-on job. I also knew that I wanted an Art Deco style with tiers inside stones and a few other design features. Meaghan was supportive and helped take my "conspiracy theorist corkboard" of ideas and organized it from what would have been a gaudy disaster to the classically beautiful (like Jordan) ring that she can't keep her eyes off of today.  (I also learned that sometimes - on rare occurrences - more is not better). I could not be happier for the guidance and general education I received from Meaghan throughout the process.

How did you propose? Was it a surprise?

Edmund: I did my best to keep it a surprise as long as possible. We planned a European vacation for Christmas with our family. The plan was to propose to Jordan in the United Kingdom and then meet the rest of our family in Paris for Christmas. While in the United Kingdom, I told her we were going to tea time at the Royal Crescent at noon on Sunday, December 19, and to dress for the occasion. She was not in the mood to dress up or go out since she wasn't feeling great and it was typical grey weather, but after A LOT of prodding, nudging, and maybe some small tiffs, Jordan begrudgingly made it out of the Airbnb. It was a short walk to the proposal location, and because I was so nervous, I had given her three or four different times for our reservation. She was so aggravated with me she did not hold my hand on the walk, and when I went to steal a kiss, she turned her cheek, so I kissed her cheek. I was thinking… "Whelp… This isn't going well."

We eventually walked halfway around the Royal Crescent, and Jordan went inside to where tea time was. I, however, needed her to keep walking the rest of the way to where the photographer was waiting for my proposal. I told her we should go outside to take one picture before we went in, and she lost her temper, saying, "Do we have time? You said we were late, and now you want to take a picture; which is it, Edmund?" The fancy British doorman was holding the door, not knowing what to do as we squabbled. Jordan eventually followed me outside, and we continued our walk around the Crescent. I found the mark on the stone I had made when I scoped the area out the day before with the photographer. I dropped down and told her how much she meant to me and asked her to be my wife. She immediately said, "Oh, get up!" thinking that I was joking. I pulled the Alexandria & Company ring out of my pocket, and she said, "Oh, you're serious!" Her whole face lit up, and the entire mood changed. She bent down and said "Yes!" giving me a big hug and kiss.

At that moment, one of the locals who lived in the Royal Crescent and watched my proposal joyfully came out with champagne and offered to take us for a ride in their Rolls-Royce, which happened to be the perfect green color that matched Jordan's dress. This particular car had been owned by the owners of Harrods and had chauffeured Princess Diana and her partner.

We eventually did make it to teatime and saw the doorman again, who was very pleased to see us in a better mood. We stayed in a beautiful hotel nearby and then celebrated in Paris for Christmas. 

Any tips for those who are thinking about getting engaged?

Edmund: I initially had an elaborate plan involving all our friends and family. It was my brother who told me that was a horrible idea, and he was right. I went with a much more sentimental, personal proposal that was for us and meant more to her than any absurd idea that I had come up with. 

Can you describe your design process in one word?

Edmund: Polished